De-TECH Project Advances to Phase 2 under the EIT Higher Education Initiative

The De-TECH Project, in which our university is a consortium partner, has been deemed eligible to advance to Phase 2 following the evaluation conducted by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).

The “De-TECH – Deep Tech European Venture Builder” project, with Istanbul Technical University among its consortium partners, has successfully completed its Phase 1 review and has been approved to proceed to Phase 2 under the EIT HEI (European Institute of Innovation and Technology – Higher Education Initiative), a program focused on entrepreneurship and innovation in higher education.

In the official notification, it was highlighted that the consortium’s efforts throughout 2025 were highly impressive in terms of diligence, dedication, and innovation. The project was also recognized for its significant contribution to the objectives of the EIT HEI.

The De-TECH Project, which aims to strengthen the deep tech entrepreneurship ecosystem, focuses on enhancing the innovation capacity of higher education institutions and developing sustainable entrepreneurship models across Europe. During Phase 2, the project plans to scale up the successful activities implemented in the first phase and further expand its impact.

In this context, new cycles of the initiatives launched during Phase 1 will begin in the second phase: the De-Tech Venture Builder Competition, De-Tech Tech Challenges, and the De-Tech Entrepreneurship and Mentoring Programme conducted in 2025 will be relaunched. Additionally, technology valorization activities will continue.

The second call for the De-Tech Venture Builder Competition is scheduled to open in March. The final pitch event of the program will take place in Hannover in July; the exact date will be announced later.

In parallel, the upcoming De-Tech Open Tech Challenge will focus on themes such as Agriculture and Food Technologies, Bio-Plastics (food packaging), Waste Valorization, and Soil Health. The final event of this program will also be held in Hannover during the same week, following the model of the first implementation in Istanbul.

With the second phase of the De-TECH Project, the goal is to further strengthen cooperation among European higher education institutions centered on deep tech, entrepreneurship, mentoring, and innovation.

What is the Deep Tech European Venture Builder Consortium?

Coordinated by the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), the consortium includes the Estonian Business School, Istanbul Technical University, and Leibniz University Hannover. Additionally, Technoport, a high-tech incubator based in Luxembourg; Effectia, an innovation consultancy firm from Spain; and the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality participate as project partners.

The European Union funds the Deep Tech European Venture Builder Competition 2025 through the EIT HEI Initiative. This competition shapes the market entry of university-based innovations around four key steps:

• Identification and Assessment: Identifying promising technologies developed in universities in collaboration with Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) and evaluating their market potential.
• Innovation Challenges: Organizing innovation challenges that bring universities and businesses together for real-world needs, fostering creative and entrepreneurial thinking among students and researchers.
• Venture Support: Launching the De-TECH competition with a comprehensive support program including training, mentoring, and financial assistance; funding winning projects and presenting them to investors at Demo Day events.
• Capacity Building: Providing entrepreneurship and technology skills training for students, researchers, and university staff to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and equip them with the tools necessary for innovation leadership.

For more information: https://detechproject.eu/

 

Read our previous news on De-TECH Project:

A Strong Step into Deep Tech from ITU: EIT Supports the De-TECH Project!

Transform Your Deep Tech Research into Ventures: De-TECH Competition Awaits Your Applications!